Torpedo



A. LYSHOLM Jan. 6, m2.

TORPEDO Filed July 8, 1938 Patented Jan. 6 1942 TOBPEDO 1m mam, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Jarvis 0. Marble, Leslie I M. Merrill and Percy H. Batten, as trustees Application July's, 1938, Serial No. 218,046 InGreat Britain July 15, 1931 8Claims.-

.The present invention relates to self-propelled torpedoes and has particular reference to torpedoes driven by an elastic fluid turbine, such for example as a gas turbine.

On account of the high speed of operation of turbines suitable for torpedo drive, as compared with the maximum permissible propeller speed,-

gearing having a relatively very high overall speed reduction must be employed and a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement of turbine and gearing for effecting the required drive to the propellers of the torpedo.

Another object of-the invention is provision of an'improved reduction gear and turbine arrangement which will permit among other things of substantially free and unrestricted flow of exhaust gas from the turbine through a hollow propeller shaft to the stem outlet of the torpedo.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved gearing which will enable the turpower section is separated from the stern section by a suitable bulkhead 24. The power source comprises a turbine 26 mounted longitudinally of the axis of the torpedo and preferably, as shown, coaxially with the longitudinal central axis of the torpedo. The shaft 28 of the turbine rotor projects forwardly from the inlet end of the turbine into casing 30 of a primary reduction gear which consists of a pinion 32 mounted on the turbine shaft and a reduction gear 84 fixed to shaft 36, the forward end of which is suitably journaled at 38 in the gear-casing '30. The gear casing 30 and turbine may advantageously be constructed as a unit supported andformed in part by the bulkhead at the forward end of the power secbine to attain its designed maximum operatin speed in therninimum'oi time.

The manner in which the above objects and other and more detailed objects of the invention are attained and the advantages to be derived The exhaust end 48 of the turbine casing communicates with the forward end of a hollow pro-.-

' other elastic sheath Qt serving to provide a from their use will best be understood from a consideration of the ensuing portion of this specification descriptive of suitable apparatus for carrying the invention into efiect, which apps-- ratus is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the after portion of a torpedo embodying the invention: v Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic transverse section taken generally along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing some additional. parts omitted from Fig. 1 for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view like Fig.- 2, taken generally along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and also showing parts omitted from Fig. 1 for the sake ofclearness; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing an alternative arrangement of a part ing.

Referring now to the drawing, the shell of.

the torpedois indicated generally at It and this shell is advantageously subdivided into sections of which, the fore section is indicated at 12, the after section at it. and the stem section at it.

of the gearwater-tight cap for the end of the shaft; A second hollow propellershaft 5t ismounted concentrically around shaft 62, shaft 50 passing through bulkhead 2 3, there advantageously being some fonn of packed bearing, not shown in detail, at 52. Shaft 52 carries propeller 54 and v shaft Ed carries propeller 5t.

The after section it providesa space il in what I may be termed the power section of the torpedo and this space is separatediirom the space 29 in the fore section by a bulkhead 22.- The At its forward end shaft 62 projects into the gear case as of a secondary reduction gear and at its forward end has fixed thereto a reduction gear 69 meshing with pinion 62. Pinion B2 is carried by the after end of shaft .36 which is journaled at this end in the secondary gear case 58 as indicated at 64. Advantageously, a tube 6 enclosing shaft 36 is fixed at its ends to the primary and secondary gear cases. I Y Shaft 36 also carries at its after end a pinion 6d meshing with an internal gear 10 which is fixed to the forward end of the propeller shaft 59, the latter shaft passing through a suitable journal 72 in the secondary gear case.

Alternatively, the internal gear .10 may be replaced as shown in Fig, 4 .by a spur-gear 10. connected to a piniontB' by means of an intermediate idler gear 76.

. The turbine 28 is operated by any suitable source of motive fluid under pressure, stored or generated in the fore part of the torpedo. In the present instance the apparatus for supplying gaseous motive fluid is indicated diagrammatl ally as comprising a combustion chamber 16 age compartment H4. from the storage compartment through the concasing are connected by to which fuel is admitted through the supply pipe 18 for combustion with compressed air supplied from the bottle 80. The gas for operating the turbine is delivered from the combustion cham her through the supply conduit 82 passing through the bulkhead 22. Obviously, any other system for supplying fluid under pressure may be employed.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the gear casings forming the primary and secondary reduction gears are advantageously provided with special lubricating systems which will now be described. As will be observed from Fig. 2, the primary casing 30 is advantageously divided by a partition 84 to provide a gear compartment 88 and a lubricant compartment 88. Oil iswithdrawn from the compartment 88 by means of any suitable form of pump operated from the turbine and delivering the oil to the several bearings and gears requiring lubrication. By way of diagrammatic illustration, there is illustrated a submerged pump 90 delivering through conduit 82 from which the several branches 92a serve to disatmospheric pressure by pressure fluid which is advantageously derived from the compressed air supply for forming the motive fluid for the turbine. In the embodiment illustrated this is accomplished by supplying compressed air through pipe I30 leading from the source oi. supply and having opening I02 for discharging air under pressure into the space I8.

The stationary turbine casing 40 and the secondary gear casing, are advantageously connected to provide a small chamber I34 encircling the joint between the casing and the propeller shaft 42 and this chamber is connected with the source of pressure fluid, advantageously by an extension of pipe I30, to maintain the chamber under pressure.

tribute the oil to the several places requirin lubrication. A valve 94 is advantageously provided to prevent leakage of lubricant through the pump line from the lubricant storage compartment to the gear compartment, when the torpedo isnot in operation.

Lubricant delivered to the gear compartment is removed continuously therefrom by means of a suitable pump which returns excess lubricant to the storage compartment. The gear compart ment may be said to operate as a dry compartment.

gear 82 through an intermediate gear 88 serves to keep the gear compartment dry. For purposes of illustration, pump 90 is shown as having a bevel gear driving connection indicated generally at I so that both pumps operate whenever the gearing operates. Obviously, any form of power connection and'pump arrangement may be employed.

Pump 98 returns lubricant to the storage compartment through the delivery pipe I02 which may advantageously pass through an oil cooler I04 through which water is circulated by means of suitable connections leading to the exterior of the torpedo.

In order to equalize pressures between the two compartments, a connection I06 is provided ,which is further advantageously provided with an automatic check valve I08 for preventing flow of oil from the storage compartment to the gear compartment in case the formershould be overfllled.

An arrangement generally similar to that just described with respect to the primary gear ,is also employed with the secondary gear, thewase 58 of which is divided by partition IIO into a'dry gear compartment I I2 and a lubricant stor- Pump H6 deliver oil duit II8 controlled by valve I .while pump I22 returns excess oil through conduit I24 to the storage compartment in order to keep'the gear compartment dry. .These pumps may be operated from the turbine through any suitable driving connection and the two compartmentsin the means of a pressure balancing connection I26 provided with a valve I28 for checking reverse flow of oil. I

The space I8 in the power section of the turbine is advantageously maintained under super- In the embodiment illustrated a submerged pump 96 driven from the turbine pinion The packing at the inlet end of the turbine and the joint with which the chamber I84 communicates constitute the only points or egress of the air under pressure supplied through pipe I30.

The operation of the gearing will be largely evident from the drawing, the primary reduction gear at the forward end of the turbine'serving to eifect a substantial initial speed reduction. This speed reduction is further reduced by the secondary gearing and as will be evident from Fig. 1, with the gearing employing an external reduction gear 60 and an internal gear I0, both driven by pinions on shaft 38. opposite directions of rotation of the propellers 54 and 58 will be obtained in very simple manner. 7

By driving from the forward end 01 the turbine it is possible to locate the turbine advantageously in the torpedo so that direct and unobstructed flow of exhaust gas to the stern outplied to the gears. However, when starting the gear compartments are dry which eliminates a substantial amount of resistance to operation of the high speed gears which would be presented by operation of the gars in the usual wet case. This contributes materially to the ability of ,the turbine to reach its normal maximum operating speed in the'minimum of time. Also, during the run of the torpedo, the circulating oil system with the dry gear compartments maintains the gear loss at a minimum, thus increasing the range of the torpedo with a giv .n potential supply of motive fluid. y

As soon as the turbine isstarted, exhaust pressure builds up within the hollow shaft 42 until the back pressure is sufflcient to blow the stern cap ofl. to permit the exhaust gases to escape.

This arrangement prevents inflow of water to the turbine until sumcient exhaust gas pressure has been built up to prevent such inflow.

The tube 88 around shaft 38 serves to prevent leakage of lubricant into the main space of the power section through and the pressure maintained in the space I8 by compressed air admitted through opening I82 prevents leakage of hot motive fluid from the inlet end of the turbine into this space. This latter assures against" overheating of the gearsv due to the gear -cases being in a hot atmosphere of leaking motive fluid. By supplying air under pressure directly to the joint at'the iorward end of the propeller shaft 42, the escape of lubricant from the secondary reduction gear through the the. journals I8 and 84' journal at the forward end of shaft. 42 is prepressure motive fluid to be used for said vented. This is important since any lubricant escaping at this point would become mixed with the exhaust gases and be discharged therewith from the torpedo. Any such oil so discharged, from the torpedo would leave a tell-tale slick on the surface of the water which it is obviously desirable to avoid.

It will be evident that the structure justde 1Q shaft packing of the turbine into the space in th power section occupied by said gearing. I

scribed by way of example may be modified in many ways without departing from the principles of the invention as defined in' the appended exhaust gases without abrupt change in direction of flow to the forward end of the inner of said hollow propeller shafts, a primary reduc-. tion gear located at the forward end of the turbine and connected to the inlet end of said rotor shaft, a secondary reduction gear'comprising a gear case encircling the forward ends of the propeller shafts, and a single power shaft for transmitting power from the primary gear to the secondary gear, said secondary reduction gear including gears for transmitting drive from said single power shaft to each of said propeller shafts and ,in respectively opposite directions.

" 2. A self-propelled torpedo including two propeller shafts, an elastic fluid turbine, mechanical reduction gearing for transmitting power from the turbine shaft, said gearing including a gear case having a partition dividing the case into a dry gear compartment and a lubricant reservoir compartment, means driven from the turbine for supplying lubricant from the reservoir compartment to the gearing, means driven from the turbine for removing excess oil from the gear compartment and returning it to the 'reservoir compartment, and a connection leading from the upper portion of the reservoir compartment to the gear compartment for equalizing pressure between the two compartments.

3. A self-propelled torpedo including two propeller shafts, anelastic fluid turbine, mechanical 'reduction gearing for transmitting power from the turbine shaft, said gearing including a' gear case having a partition dividing the case into a dry gear compartment and a lubricant reservoir compartment, .means driven from the turbine for supplying lubricant from the reservoir compartment to the gearing, means driven from the 'turbine for removing excessoil from thegear compartment and returning it to the reservoir compartment, a connection leading from the upper portion of the reservoir compartment to the gear compartment for equalizingpress ure between the ,two compartments, and means in said connection for preventing flow of lubricant therethrough from the reservoir compartmentto the gear compartment.- 1

4. A self-propelled torpedo comprising a shell providing a fore section, a power section; and a ,70 stern section, bulkheads separating said sections,

two propeller shafts extending through the stern section bulkhead into the power section, an elastic fluid turbinelocated in the power section,

a storage reservoir in said fore section for high 7 5 said reservoir to said power section and having an opening. located in said power section-fortdelivering fluid directly from said reservoir to the interior 'of saidpower section, whereby to prevent leakage of motive fluid from around the 5. A self-propelled torpedo having a power sectiori, a hollow propeller shaft extending into said 1 section, an elastic fluid turbine having an ex- 1 5 haust gas outlet adjacent to the inner end of said hollow propeller shaft for exhaust of gases through said shaft, mechanical gearing for connecting said turbine and said shaft, said gearing including a gear casing around the end of said shaft adjacent to the turbine outlet, means providing an annular chamber between the gear casing and the turbine outlet structure, and means for introducing compressed gaseous fluid into said chamber to prevent leakage of lubricant from the gear casing around the forwardend of said shaft and into the stream of exhaust gases passing from the turbine outlet into said shaft. 6. A self-propelled torpedo providing a power section and a stern section, a stern bulkhead sep aratingsaid sections, two' hollow concentric propeller shafts extending through the stern bulkhead into the power section, an elastic fluid I turbine 'mounted forwardly of said. shafts in alignment therewith and with the outlet of the of the turbine and enclosing reduction gears driven from the inlet end of the turbine shaft, a secondary reduction gear including a gear casing encircling the propeller shafts and enclosing reduction gears for transmitting power in opposite directions of rotation to the two propeller shafts from a single power shaft, a power shaft Journaled in each of said gear casings and connecting said primary and secondary reduction gears, a sleeve fixed at its opposite ends to the respective casings and enclosingsaid power shaft, and means for maintaining the space in said power section surrounding the aforementioned parts under super-atmospheric pressure.

7. A self-propelled torpedo including two propeller shafts, an elastic fluid turbine having a-rotor shaft and arranged longitudinally of the torpedo ahead of said propeller shafts and with its inlet end disposed forwardly of the torpedo, a

' primary reduction gear located at the forward end of said turbine and connected to the inlet connection from said primary gear to said secondary gear, said secondary gear including an external gear on one propeller shaft, an internal gear on the other propeller shaft and pinions mounted on said connecting shaft one of said pinions meshing with said extemalgear and the other of said pinions meshing with the internal gear. g

8. A self-propelled torpedo including two hol low coaxial propeller shafts, the inner one of said shafts providing a conduit leading from the interior to the exterior of the torpedo, an elastic fluid turbine located in line with and ahead of said propeller shafts and with the outlet end of 1 v 5 y g Y I the, ii -i=5"- j iadgacenfi to: the inner jenfd of: said $10118 frpni a uni-directional pqwerdemefing; ale- 1 v v v v v v inner} prapeuer; gshjaft; said turbine fexhaus'tl'ng i j -ment, and a driving cunnec'tinfi extenmnz {63- i I 1 i l f 1 into; vsaid lmrshaft; a pnmaryr aucmn gear; j i tejriorly :ofgthe ,tu'rbme'and: to one side; thrgeojty locatedf vai'clj ce'nt to the; inlet; and: 0.1 vthe, turbine 1 for transmitting 12mm]:1tomtheazh-ilvenglemenj;v l v j and inch; ding & g ar mounted on the inlet end '5' I of said primary rductian ga'r to said secondary v v ij" j of 'thejturbmerotonal secendary reduction gear; 1 Z i 7 reduction gear.) 7 I I Q j. H

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